Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s13.5

v2.c27.s13.5

Having strengthened his base at Delhi and in fancied security about his long-extended line of communication along the west bank of the Jamunā for a month to come, the Bhāu arrived before Kunjpurā in the evening of 16th October. Outside the city were encamped Abdus Samad Khan (the Durrāni governor of Sarhind) and Miān Qutb Shāh (the preceptor and ally of the Indian Ruhelas, whose brigandages have been described in Ch. 13, §15) with about 2,000 men. There were at least 8,000 more fighters within. The immense Maratha host halted for the night, encircling the city, and early next morning advanced to attack the Afghan camp outside. Ibrāhim Khān Gārdi with his artillery, supported by his eight regiments of foot-musketeers, led the van. Abdus Samad and Qutb issued from their tents and tried to charge the Marathas, but the withering fire of these disciplined troops broke their ranks up before they could come to close quarters. Abdus Samad was shot dead, and Qutb wounded. The remnant of their troops fled to the city gates and demanded entrance, which Nejābat Khan at first refused, as he trembled at the deadly power of the Maratha army which he had witnessed from the walls. After a long wrangle they induced him to open the gates by threatening Abdali’s wrath if he refused them help. But the Marathas had now arrived close behind the fugitives and entered the city pell-mell with them. Thus Kunjpurā fell into Maratha hands at one blow. Evidently there was much street fighting as the Afghans defended their homes, because the Marathas admit nearly a thousand casualties on their side (but no officer slain.) The booty secured was immense,—3,000 horses, besides all the camels and guns found in the fort. Two hundred thousand maunds of wheat and other goods of a total value of 10 lakhs, and six and a half lakhs of Rupees in cash came to the public treasury, while the soldiers and camp-followers on the day of the assault looted much property in the houses. So vast was the quantity of the captured provisions that the Maratha troops were paid their weekly subsistence in grain.